A systematic review recently published in the European Respiratory Journal Open Research looked at whether early exercise after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) surgery in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is safe and feasible, given that post-operative cardiac remodelling needs to be balanced against the benefits of getting moving early. Searching the AMED, CINAHL, Embase, and MEDLINE databases, the authors found only small, varied studies, but across them, early interventions — walking, cycling, light dumbbell exercises, and breathing training — showed no adverse events under continuous monitoring, alongside improvements in exercise capacity and right heart measurements. The authors conclude that early exercise appears safe and potentially beneficial, though larger randomised controlled trials are still needed to confirm this.
Read more at this link on the European Respiratory Journal Open Research
Citation
Safety of exercise after pulmonary endarterectomy: a systematic review, Alicia Page Kathryn Mares Ciara McCormack, ERJ Open Research 2026 12(4): 01449-2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1183/23120541.01449-2025